49ers’ Brock Purdy on facing Tom Brady: “Dude’s been playing football longer than I’ve been alive”

Rookie Brock Purdy will be the San Francisco 49ers’ starting quarterback going forward. The team lost veteran Jimmy Garoppolo for the season to a broken foot suffered against the Miami Dolphins. Garoppolo, of course, was starting because Trey Lance went down in Week 2 after suffering a season-ending ankle injury.

Purdy, the last overall pick in this year’s draft, ended up leading the 49ers to an impressive 33-17 win over the Miami Dolphins. Well, it was the dominating play of the 49ers defense that led to the win, but Purdy did what was asked of him, and played well. The rookie finished the game completing 25 of his 37 pass attempts for 210 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.

Is it sustainable, though? Next up will be his first NFL start, going against quarterback Tom Brady and the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“Yeah, I think it’s cool,” Purdy, who will turn 23 years old two days after Christmas, said of the upcoming matchup against the 45-year-old future Hall of Fame quarterback. “Dude’s been playing football longer than I’ve been alive. To have a first start against the GOAT, it’s going to be pretty cool.”

Purdy was two years old when Brady won his first of seven Super Bowls. The young quarterback’s nonchalant attitude about facing Brady and the Buccaneers might bode well for him and the 49ers. The less pressure he feels, the better.

“But it’s just any other game, man,” Purdy continued. “I’ve got to be efficient, do my thing, and play football.”

The 49ers have won five consecutive games thanks to the team’s defense playing lights football out over that span. Purdy hopes to keep the winning streak going next weekend at Levi’s Stadium.